PRESTON NORTH END 1-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Preston North End may be top of the league but Coventry City put in a superb performance to deservedly take a point at Deepdale.
Another mad dash up the M6 to junction 31 and then down the A59 saw us arrive at a Deepdale ground where City have never won a league fixture.
The players this time also had an uneventful journey and Micky Adams kept faith with the team who played in Saturday's win against Queens Park Rangers.
Stern John was the only change in the subs replacing Rafa Gonzalez.
Preston boss Paul Simpson fielded Canley Kid Graham Alexander who has scored more times against City than any other Coventry born player and had former City trialist Chris Neal on the bench.
There was a good turn out of City supporters and our numbers of around six hundred in the away end were boosted by Claus Jorgensen and Andy Morrell who are currently playing for nearby Blackpool.
For the first half hour, City matched the home side. Colin Cameron should have done better with a tame shot in the opening seconds as Robert Page and Elliott Ward commanded at the back.
Preston lost Sean St Ledger to a fifteenth minute injury and struggled to first clear a Clive Clarke cross and then conceded a corner.
Dele Adebola was cautioned for persistent fouling as the Sky Blues got their tackles in and kept Nugent and Agyemang at bay.
In the 33rd minute, Preston took the lead. A blatant stamp by Patrick Agyemang on Richard Duffy was not spotted by Mr Lewis. With the City players expecting action to be taken, play continued, the ball was swept over for David Nugent whose header from nine yards went in off the bar.
Andy Marshall had no chance with the goal and was in fine form,diving to his right to get to a Simon Whaley effort.
With plenty of noise eminating from the away end section of the Bill Shankley Stand including a number of renditions of Gangsters by The Specials, City finished the half strongly with a Cameron shot deflected for a corner and Leon McKenzie nodding over a Currie cross.
"Keep It Going" must have been the message from the City backroom staff at the break as this they did.
Two corners were won within the opening first fifteen minutes with Darren Currie also getting a shot in.
Preston North End may be top of the league but Coventry City put in a superb performance to deservedly take a point at Deepdale.
Another mad dash up the M6 to junction 31 and then down the A59 saw us arrive at a Deepdale ground where City have never won a league fixture.
The players this time also had an uneventful journey and Micky Adams kept faith with the team who played in Saturday's win against Queens Park Rangers.
Stern John was the only change in the subs replacing Rafa Gonzalez.
Preston boss Paul Simpson fielded Canley Kid Graham Alexander who has scored more times against City than any other Coventry born player and had former City trialist Chris Neal on the bench.
There was a good turn out of City supporters and our numbers of around six hundred in the away end were boosted by Claus Jorgensen and Andy Morrell who are currently playing for nearby Blackpool.
For the first half hour, City matched the home side. Colin Cameron should have done better with a tame shot in the opening seconds as Robert Page and Elliott Ward commanded at the back.
Preston lost Sean St Ledger to a fifteenth minute injury and struggled to first clear a Clive Clarke cross and then conceded a corner.
Dele Adebola was cautioned for persistent fouling as the Sky Blues got their tackles in and kept Nugent and Agyemang at bay.
In the 33rd minute, Preston took the lead. A blatant stamp by Patrick Agyemang on Richard Duffy was not spotted by Mr Lewis. With the City players expecting action to be taken, play continued, the ball was swept over for David Nugent whose header from nine yards went in off the bar.
Andy Marshall had no chance with the goal and was in fine form,diving to his right to get to a Simon Whaley effort.
With plenty of noise eminating from the away end section of the Bill Shankley Stand including a number of renditions of Gangsters by The Specials, City finished the half strongly with a Cameron shot deflected for a corner and Leon McKenzie nodding over a Currie cross.
"Keep It Going" must have been the message from the City backroom staff at the break as this they did.
Two corners were won within the opening first fifteen minutes with Darren Currie also getting a shot in.
City were workmanlike through out, defending when required and looking to counter when ever possible.
There had been calls for a while for Stern John to be introduced in to what was an entertaining affair.
The Trinidadian came on in the 67th minute replacing McKenzie at the same time as Jay Tabb replaced Colin Cameron and was straight into the action,winning a corner.
In the 70th minute,John had very good cause to claim for a penalty. Marcus Hall sent over a peach of a cross,Adebola headed down for Stern John who was held back by Danny Pugh as he tried to turn.
Nothing was given,seats were kicked in frustration but John got up and headed a Hall cross over two minutes later.
In the 77th minute, Kevin Kyle came on for Richard Duffy with Dele Adebola dropping back to assist the defence.
When Dele Adebola next went forward,some two minutes later, it was to get the ball on the right,cut insider a marker and slam a left footed shot into the far corner of the net.
As you would expect the City players and supporters revelled in this goal which was worthy of winning a game never mind earning a draw.
Preston, who it is fair to say were nowhere near the side who ripped us apart last season, had nothing left and City picked up a very deserved point from their best away performance of the season.
HT PNE 1-0 CCFC
FT PNE 1-1 CCFC
ATT 13,104
Goals David Nugent (33), Dele Adebola (79)
Referee R.Lewis Booked Adebola,Ward,Tabb
Team
Marshall,Duffy (Kyle 77),Hall,Page,Ward,Cameron (Tabb 67),Doyle,Clarke,Currie,Adebola,McKenzie (John 67) SNU Birchall,Bischoff
Preston
Nash,Alexander,St Ledger (Wilson 14),Chilvers,Pugh,Sedgewick,Miller (Lewis Neal 74),McKenna,Whaley,Agyemang (Dichio 80),Nugent SNU Chris Neal,Omeroyd
As you would expect the City players and supporters revelled in this goal which was worthy of winning a game never mind earning a draw.
Preston, who it is fair to say were nowhere near the side who ripped us apart last season, had nothing left and City picked up a very deserved point from their best away performance of the season.
HT PNE 1-0 CCFC
FT PNE 1-1 CCFC
ATT 13,104
Goals David Nugent (33), Dele Adebola (79)
Referee R.Lewis Booked Adebola,Ward,Tabb
Team
Marshall,Duffy (Kyle 77),Hall,Page,Ward,Cameron (Tabb 67),Doyle,Clarke,Currie,Adebola,McKenzie (John 67) SNU Birchall,Bischoff
Preston
Nash,Alexander,St Ledger (Wilson 14),Chilvers,Pugh,Sedgewick,Miller (Lewis Neal 74),McKenna,Whaley,Agyemang (Dichio 80),Nugent SNU Chris Neal,Omeroyd